<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Awhile ago, we talked about Marcus Buckingham, a senior researcher at the Gallup Organization, and discussed his findings in his excellent book, \u201cNow Discover Your Strengths.\u201d<\/p>\n
He has more to offer us.<\/p>\n
Buckingham says a workforce can be divided into three categories: people who are loyal and productive, or \u201cengaged,\u201d those who are just treading water or \u201cnot engaged,\u201d and those who are malcontents or \u201cactively disengaged.\u201d\u00a0 There are 12 simple questions the answers to which, he says, determine whether employees are engaged, not engaged, or actively disengaged at work.<\/p>\n
1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Do I know what is expected of me at work?<\/p>\n 2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Do I have the materials and equipment that I need in order to do my work right?<\/p>\n 3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day?<\/p>\n 4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>In the past seven days, have I received recognition or praise for doing good work?<\/p>\n 5)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a person?<\/p>\n 6)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Is there someone at work who encourages my development?<\/p>\n 7)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>At work, do my opinions seem to count?<\/p>\n 8)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Does the mission or purpose of my company make me feel that my job is important?<\/p>\n 9)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Are my coworkers committed to doing quality work?<\/p>\n 10)\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0Do I have a best friend at work?<\/p>\n 11)\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0In the past six months, has someone at work talked to me about my progress?<\/p>\n 12)\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0This past year, have I had opportunities at work to learn and grow?<\/p>\n Obviously, the more of these questions an employee can answer in the affirmative, the more he or she will gravitate toward \u201cengaged.\u201d\u00a0 The fewer an employee can answer in the affirmative, the more he or she will gravitate toward either \u201cnot engaged\u201d or \u201cactively disengaged.\u201d<\/p>\n Do you know where your employees fall on this continuum from \u201cengaged\u201d to \u201cactively disengaged?\u201d\u00a0 If not, you should find out.\u00a0 The very act of asking the 12 questions may move some employees a few notches closer to \u201cengaged.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Awhile ago, we talked about Marcus Buckingham, a senior researcher at the Gallup Organization, and discussed his findings in his excellent book, \u201cNow Discover Your Strengths.\u201d He has more to offer us. Buckingham says a workforce can be divided into three categories: people who are loyal and productive, or \u201cengaged,\u201d those who are just<\/p>\n